Novelty walking cane



L. H. AMDUR Feb. 7, 1939.

' NOVELTY WALKING CANE Filed July 13, 1

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention relates to a novelty walking cane,

umbrella handle and the like, the object of the invention being to provide a novelty cane or umbrella handle which by simple adjustment may be 5. transformed into different styles and uses. Further objects of the invention will be pointed out or will become apparent in the following description of the invention with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 represents the upper portion of the novelty cane shown assembled to form the umbrella style;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the connection between the handle and the stem;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the groove, slot and seat provided at various points on the cane stem to fasten the handle and/ or ornamental ball; Fig. 4 shows the parts assembled to form the shepherd style;

Fig. 5 shows the parts assembled to form the half sword style;

Fig. 6 shows the parts assembled to form the full sword style;

Fig. 7 represents the straight style;

Fig. 8 is a detail of one manner of making the connecting fixtures; and

Fig. 9 illustrates a simplified form of the invention.

The novelty cane or umbrella handle of this 0 invention comprises essentially three parts, a main stem'IO, a half-circle handle 20, and an ornamental ball 30. These three parts are separable and may be variously asembled together to form walking canes of various styles. One style-'- 35 which will be termed the umbrella styleis shown in Fig. 1, with one end of handle 20, designated 2I, abutting and secured to the upper end II of cane stem I0, and with the ball 30 depending from and secured to the other end 22 of the 40 handle.

For the purpose of securing end 2I of the handle to upper end II of the stem, end 2| of the handle is provided with a depending tongue 23 (see also Fig. 2) received in a groove I3 at the up- 45 per end II of the stem (see also Fig. 3). As best seen in Fig. 2, the shoulders 2Ia. of the handle fit against the top surfaces IIa of the cane stem, to form a rigid connection. The two parts may be held securely together by means of a pin or p 50 button I which as best seen in Fig. 2 is of frustoconical shape and held in the tongue or blade 23 of the handle by the provision of a flange 4 at one end of the pin which is received in an enlarged recess 24 provided in tongue 20. The flanged end 55 of the pin is further provided with a small cavity 3 to receive one end of a compression spring 2. One side of the tongue or blade 20 is provided with a plate 25, which may be secured to the blade by means of small screws 25s, Fig. l and the other side of the tongue is provided with. a hole 26 in: communication with the enlarged recess 25; as shown in Fig. 2, hole 26 may be tapered to conform with the taper of pin I. These parts are initially assembled by passing the small end of pin I through hole 26, the flange 4 of the pin being stopped by the seat of enlarged recess 24. The compression spring 2 is then positioned as shown and the covering plate 25 is secured on the blade 20 to compress the spring and retain the parts in place.

Referring to Fig. 3, the upper end II of the cane stem is further provided with a slot Il oriented normally to the groove I3 and extending to considerably (substantially half) less than the depth of the groove I3. The slot I'I leads into a seat IB at its bottom, which is tapered and of a size to correspond to the pin I. That is, the size and taper of seat I8 is such that the pin I will lock securely therein when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1, with compression spring 2 pushing the pin outward. The sides of slot I I in communication with the conically tapered seat I8 are likewise tapered (see Fig. 3) but the width of slot I1 is less than that of the seat I8. Hence pin I when propelled outwardly by compression spring 2-its normal condition--cannot pass through slot I! but must remain locked in seat I8. The handle member 20 is fastened onto the stem I0 by first pushing in pin or button I so that the nar-' row or pointed end thereof overlies the groove I'I, stil holding the pin in this inward position, the end 2| of the handle is fastened to the stem, tongue 23 being received in groove I3 and pin I (still pushed in) being received in slot H. The button I is then released, the compressed spring 2 forcing the pin to fit tightly in seat I8, to hold the handle firmly on the cane stem.

The ball 30 may be secured to the handle 20 in the same manner, 1. e., by means of a tongue 31, on the ball received in a groove 21 at end 22 of the handle, there likewise being a pin or button I clearing a slot 28 provided in the handle.

The handle 20 may be connected to stem I0 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, to form the umbrella style. Or the handle 20 may be connected to stem I0 in the manner shown in Fig. 4--this might be termed the shepherd style. The tongue 23 is inserted in the side opening I3 of the groove I3, (see Fig. 2) rather than from the top opening; the pin I (pressed in as before) is passed through slot I 7 until it seats in conical hole I8 to hold the handle in the position shown in Fig. 4. As appears in Fig. 3, the side of the cane bordering opening !3 of the groove may be fiattened (designated !6) so that the handle surfaces 2 la may firmly seat thereon.

In the shepherd style the ball 3! may remain in the position it has in Fig. 1, or the ball may be turned (in the manner explained in connection with handle 20 and stem it!) to either of the dot-and-dash positions, Fig. 4.

The parts may be arranged to form a further style shown in Fig, 5, which may be termed the half sword style. For this purpose there is provided on the side of stem H and a short distance from its top end, a groove 23, a tapered slot 47, and a conical seat 48, similar to groove l3, slot I7, and seat 48. The handle 29 is connected to stem H! at its end 28 by inserting its tongue 23 in groove 43, its pin locked in seat d8. As shown in Fig. 3, the stem may be flattened (15) to provide a bearing surface for portions Zia of the handle. In the half sword style of Fig. 5, the ball 30 may be positioned as shown or may assume the dot-and-dash position of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6 is shown the full sword style; the ball 3!! has been disconnected from handle 2&3 and joined to the upper end of the stem with ball tongue 3? received in groove 23 and pin 7 passed through slot ii to fit in seat is. The end 28 of the handle 20 is connected to the stem at a point of the stem somewhat lower than groove 23, where there is provided a groove 53 to receive the tongue 23, a slot for pin 1 and a seat 58 in which the pin looks. The ball 5!! may be removed from Fig. 6 to further modify the sword style.

By removing the handle 26, the straight style of cane, Fig. 7, is gotten.

The blade or tongue 23 of the handle and its parts is preferably made of metal, as shown in Fig. 2, with a cup portion 29 in which the wood handle 26 or rather end 2! is fitted as by pressure or glue or otherwise. The blade or tongue 3'! of the ball 36 is likewise preferably made of metal and secured to the ball, which may be of wood or metal or other suitable ornamental material; if desired, the ball 36 and its tongue 3'? may be fabricated from a single blank of metal.

The grooves (i3, 63, 53) may be cut out directly in the wood or other composition from which the cane is made, as shown in Fig. 3; the slots (ll, 47?, 5'!) and seats (3, 48 and 58) may be formed in the like manner directly in the cane material. Or these parts may be formed of metal and secured, as by force or screw fit or by glue, in position on the cane; see Fig. 2 showing the groove i3 and slot ll member secured at the upper end of the cane stem. Inasmuch as grooves 47 and 5? and their associated parts are quite close together, see Fig. 1, these may be made as a single fitting,

A further manner of forming the parts is shown in Fig. 8 wherein the top fixture A (comprising groove l3, slot ii and seat I8) is fabricated from a single piece of material, preferably metal, and provided with tapped hole l9. In addition to fixture A there is provided a fixture B which comprises the grooves 53 and 53, the slots 4"! and 51, and the seats 58 and 58. Both ends of the fitting B are provided with tapped holes 5% and 59'. Fitting A and fitting B are joined by a short piece of cane Bil, which is threaded at its upper end 65 to screw into tapped hole IQ of fitting A, and threaded at its other end .52 to screw into tapped hole 59 of fitting B. Into the other tapped hole 58 of fitting B is screwed threaded end 63 of cane stem 64.

A simplified form of the invention appears in Fig. 9 where the handle 2% is provided at end 2| with a threaded projection l3 which may be screwed into a tapped hole M at the top of cane stem 18, or into tapped holes E5 or 16 in the side of the stem. The other end of handle is tapped TI to receive a threaded projection 18 of the ball 35. l

I claim:

1. A novelty walking cane comprised of a stem member provided at its upper end with a groove separating two bearing portions, one of the said bearing portions being provided with a conical seat and an open-mouth slot leading into the said seat, and a handle member provided at one end with a tongue receivable in the said stem groove and a spring-pressed pin carried by the said tongue and tapered to fit in the said conical seat of the stem member, the said slot of the stem member being of narrower width than the said conical seat, but wider than the forward portion of the said pin whereby when the said pin is pushed-in it will clear the said slot to permit the said handle tongue to be received in the said stem groove or to be withdrawn there from.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the said handle tongue is provided with an enlarged recess opening on one face of the tongue and with a hole communicating between the said recess and the other face of the tongue and wherein the said tapered pin is provided with a flange at its widest end received in the said tongue recess, the said recessed face of the tongue being provided with a retaining plate, and the said pin being maintained in a forward position with its end projecting through the said tongue hole by a compression spring provided in the said tongue recess between the said retaining plate and the flanged end of the pin.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the other end of the said handle member is provided with a groove, seat and slot. similar to that provided in the stem, further provided with an ornamental member provided with a tongue and spring-pressed pin similar to that provided in the said handle member, whereby the said tongue and pin of the ornamental member may be received in the groove, slot and seat of the handle member or in the groove, slot and seat of the stem member.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein one side of the said stem member is provided with a groove, seat and slot similar to that provided at the upper end of the stem whereby the said handle member may be secured by its said tongue and spring-pressed pin to either the side or end of the stem member.

5. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem provided at its upper end with a groove open at the top and sides, and a half-circle handle provided at one end with a tongue, the said handle tongue being receivable in the top opening of the said stem groove to connect the handle to the stem as a continuation thereof to form the umbrella style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side opening of the said stem groove to connect the handle to the stem to form the shepherd style of cane.

6. A novelty walking cane comprised of a stem member and a handle member, the two members being detachably secured together by the provision of a tongue and slot provided in the two members and a spring-pressed pin carried by the said tongue of one member and received in a seat provided therefor in the other member.

'7. A novelty walking cane comprised of a stem member provided with a tapped hole at its top end and at its side near the top end, and a handle member provided with a threaded projection at one end screwable in either of the said tapped holes of the stem member and provided at the other end with a tapped hole, the said pair of tapped holes in .the said stem member and the said tapped hole in the said handle member being of equal size, and an ornamental member provided with a threaded projection screwable in the said threaded hole of the handle member or in either of the tapped holes of the stem member.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the said handle member is in the form of a half-circle, and wherein the said ornamental member is in the form of a ball.

9. A novelty walking cane comprised of a handle member having a tongue at one end and a stem member-formed of an end fixture provided with a, groove at one end in which the said handle tongue may be received and provided with a tapped hole at the other end, an intermediate fixture provided with tapped holes at each end and a groove cut in its side in which the said handle tongue may be received, the said tapped hole in the said end fixture and the said tapped holes in the said intermediate fixture being of equal size, a short stern piece threaded at each end for screwing into the said tapped hole of the end fixture and one of the tapped holes of the intermediate fixture, and a main stem threaded at one end for screwing into the other tapped hole of the intermediate member.

10. The combination according to claim 9 further provided with an ornamental member provided with a tongue receivable in the said groove of the said handle member and in the said groove of the said end fixture of the stem member.

11. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem, a handle member, means for detachably securing the said handle member to the upper end of said maln stem, an ornamental member and means for detachably securing the said ornamental member to the said handle member to form a walking cane of one style or to the said upper end of the said stem to form a walking cane of a different style.

12. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem provided at its upper end and along its side with grooves, a half-circle handle provided at one end with a tongue and provided at the other end with a groove, and an ornamental ball provided with a tongue, the said ball tongue being received in the said handle groove and the said handle tongue being received in the said groove at the end of the stem to form the umbrella style of cane; and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said groove at the side of the stem to form the sword style of cane; and the said ball tongue being receivable in the said groove at the top of the stem to form the straightstyle of cane.

13. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem, a handle and an ornament which are separable from each other and which are adjustable to form walking canes of various styles.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the said handle is in the form of a half-circle.

15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the said ornament is in the form of a ball.

16. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem provided at its upper end with a groove, a half-circle handle provided at one end with a tongue received in the said groove in the stem and provided at the other end with a groove and an ornamental ball provided with a tongue received in the said groove of the handle.

1'7. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem member provided with a, groove at its upper end and with a groove along its side, and a half circle handle member provided at one end with a tongue, the said handle tongue being receivable in the said end groove of the stem member to connect the handle member to the stem member to form the umbrella style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side groove of the stem member to connect the handle member to the stem to form the sword style of cane.

18. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem member provided at its upper end with a groove open at the top and sides and with a groove along the side of the said stem member, and a half circle handle member provided at one end with a tongue, the said handle tongue being receivable in the top opening of the said end groove of the stem, to connect the handle member to the stem member to form the umbrella style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side opening of the said end groove of the stem member to connect the handle to the stem to form the shepherd style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side groove of the stem member to connect the handle to the stem to form the sword style of cane.

. 19. A novelty walking cane comprised of a main stem member provided at its upper end with a groove open at the top and sides and with a groove along the side of the said stem member, a, half circle handle member provided at one end with a tongue, and at the other end with a groove, and a ball member provided with a tongue, the said handle tongue being receivable in the top opening of the said end groove of the stem, to connect the handle member with the said ball member attached to the other end of the handle member, to the stem member to form the umbrella style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side opening of the said end groove of the stem member to connect the handle to the stem to form the shepherd style of cane, and the said handle tongue being receivable in the said side groove of the stem member to connect the handle to the stem to form the sword style of cane, and the said ball tongue being receivable in the top opening of the said end groove of the stem to form the straight style of walking cane.

20. The combination according to claim 19 wherein the said stem member is provided with a pair of side grooves, the said handle tongue being receivable in one of the said side grooves and the said ball tongue being receivable in the top opening of the said end groove of the stem.

LEON H. AIWDUR. 

